Fermented fluids

Has anyone around here found something interesting to drink lately? I ask because I have just dealt with a decanted miniature of 'Springbank 16, local barley' from 2016 (that's a Scotch whisky from Campbelltown, for those unacquainted with it) given to me by a sensitive and caring nephew. It would be vulgar to mention the price of a bottle here, but it is something to be treated with reverence. My own whisky buying is strictly limited to the single malts at the duty free shop at Glasgow Airport - usually a good selection. Since a bottle lasts me several years, my small hoard will probably last me the rest of my life.

So.... Any good beer, wine, spirit discoveries or favourites that Shipmates should know about?
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Comments

  • In the spirit of cheap(-ish) and cheerful, we have been enjoying a Portuguese Loureiro from Vinho Verde lately...

    https://www.lcbo.com/en/casal-de-ventozela-loureiro-2014-445098

    Somewhat to my surprise, there are actually two Lebanese reds at the Ontario LCBO these days, both from Chateau Ksara and both recommended by reliable sources. I accidentally bought two bottles of the more expensive one, mistaking it for the cheaper one I intended to buy. It was quite nice but basically a Bordeaux blend intended to age for another year or two and an odd match for the pizza we were sharing with a friend. Will report back on the other one if and when I pick up a bottle...

  • Marsupial wrote: »
    In the spirit of cheap(-ish) and cheerful, we have been enjoying a Portuguese Loureiro from Vinho Verde lately...

    https://www.lcbo.com/en/casal-de-ventozela-loureiro-2014-445098

    Somewhat to my surprise, there are actually two Lebanese reds at the Ontario LCBO these days, both from Chateau Ksara and both recommended by reliable sources. I accidentally bought two bottles of the more expensive one, mistaking it for the cheaper one I intended to buy. It was quite nice but basically a Bordeaux blend intended to age for another year or two and an odd match for the pizza we were sharing with a friend. Will report back on the other one if and when I pick up a bottle...

    I shall be looking forward to the review!
  • ClimacusClimacus Shipmate
    While on Kangaroo Island I picked up some cider -- they had 4 varieties. The non-alcoholic one is rather refreshing, but a sweet alcoholic one (which I sampled over lunch) is just lovely. The other 2 (I got a mixed case of 6) are a bit dry for me, but pleasant nevertheless.

    At some point I switched from wine to cider. I have no idea why. Changing tastes?
  • Wye Valley Meadery fermented mead
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    Ooh, Wye Valley Meadery is very good!

    Also recently opened in Hay-on-Wye is a shop called Wobbly Owl, which sells farm cider and gins and so on. I got some for my sister for Christmas, and I haven't had any complaints!

    I don't buy a lot of wine, but recently I noticed that the local Co-op stocks Hereford red wine. It's actually a Spanish wine, but it tastes very nice and full bodied.
  • ArethosemyfeetArethosemyfeet Shipmate, Heaven Host
    I don't drink alcohol. I have, nonetheless, purchased one of the 800 bottles of the first legally produced whisky from my home island in centuries. It's a 3 years matured single malt and will likely sit undisturbed in its presentation box for the next few decades. It might make an appearance if ever Little Miss Feet gets married or similar momentous occasion.
  • Eigon wrote: »
    I don't buy a lot of wine, but recently I noticed that the local Co-op stocks Hereford red wine. It's actually a Spanish wine, but it tastes very nice and full bodied.

    For the price, it's a fairly decent glass. Spot the Co-op shoppers... Certainly better than cooking quality!

    Our budget fave, which we stock up on every time we pass one (even on holiday...) is Lidl's £5ish Riesling - it's ridiculously good for the price (Riesling is a grape that the Brits have never rated, especially as it's German, so often good for a bargain). Soft enough to drink with itself, but sharp enough to cut through spice and grease with a meal.

    Occasionally they stock a 2.5% Normandy cider, but that's a middle-aisle rarity rather than a regular.

  • I don't drink alcohol. I have, nonetheless, purchased one of the 800 bottles of the first legally produced whisky from my home island in centuries. It's a 3 years matured single malt and will likely sit undisturbed in its presentation box for the next few decades. It might make an appearance if ever Little Miss Feet gets married or similar momentous occasion.

    Visiting the Highland Park distillery in Kirkwall a few years ago, we saw a bottle selling for £3,000, and asked the guide if they sold many. He didn't give a straight answer, but advised us to buy three: one to drink, one to give to a favourite child, and one to keep as an investment that would pay for all three after a few years. It was tempting, of course, but I settled for something a little cheaper at the airport duty-free shop a few days later.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Probably our fastest turnover in spirits is gin. There's always an ordinary supermarket one for cocktails and mixed drinks, and a good one for G&Ts. We've drunk our way round the islands - Barra, Raasay, Harris, Orkney. Edinburgh Gin is a standby, as is Hills and Harbour. NB and Leith also acceptable, as are Irish and Japanese (can't quite remember the names - probably on account of drinking all that gin).
  • The Japanese Roku gin is probably my favourite gin. They also have a Sakura version.
  • DardaDarda Shipmate
    We often tend to be a bit naughty and decant a supermarket gin into a more prestigious bottle. Guests never seem to comment, so they either don't notice or are too polite! Should add that we are not really gin connoisseurs and a single malt is our preferred spirit.
  • TwangistTwangist Shipmate
    I've got some homebrewed bokbier (dark malty Dutch style) and festive ale (dark, hoppy and lightly spiced) plus some real ale and Belgian beers kicking around.
    Single malt is popular chez Twang and G&Ts in the summer.
    Red wine is also enjoyed.
    Port and brandy are nice on occasion.
    Lidl is always good for a boozy bargain I find.
  • I should have mentioned above that the phrase, 'fermented fluids' may be found in Pete Seeger's version of 'Give me that old time religion':

    We will pray with those old druids
    They drink fermented fluids
    Waltzing naked though the woo-ids
    And it's good enough for me

  • Gramps49Gramps49 Shipmate
    I have not been able to drink for the past two years because of my liver condition. Yes, I have cirrhosis of the liver but it is not alcohol related. Consequently, I have been drinking non alcoholic bourbon and non alcoholic tequila plus non alcoholic beers. Of the beers, I tend towards the stouts. Of the spirits, the tequila is better. The bourbons taste a little cinnamony. I also have a non alcoholic gin to try and will order a sweet vermouth but I will work through them later.

    Interesting, reading the description of non alcoholic spirits, they are supposed to contain less than 0.5% by volume. Bananas have greater alcohol content.

    The brand of the non alcoholic spirits is Free Spirit.
  • ClimacusClimacus Shipmate
    edited January 31
    Gramps49 wrote: »
    Bananas have greater alcohol content.
    Truly I learn something new every day. Thank you.

    Enjoy the gin and vermouth!
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    @Darda I had a friend who was very much into good Scotch. Back when the first Japanese whiskies were being imported, he would put them in decanters to see if his whisky snob friends could tell the difference - and they never did!
  • @Sandemaniac , Darllenwr’s parents had 3 grades of cheap wine - drinking, washing and drain cleaning!
  • SandemaniacSandemaniac Shipmate
    edited January 31
    Priscilla wrote: »
    @Sandemaniac , Darllenwr’s parents had 3 grades of cheap wine - drinking, washing and drain cleaning!
    :-D
    I must remember that!
  • Marsupial wrote: »
    In the spirit of cheap(-ish) and cheerful, we have been enjoying a Portuguese Loureiro from Vinho Verde lately...

    https://www.lcbo.com/en/casal-de-ventozela-loureiro-2014-445098

    Somewhat to my surprise, there are actually two Lebanese reds at the Ontario LCBO these days, both from Chateau Ksara and both recommended by reliable sources. I accidentally bought two bottles of the more expensive one, mistaking it for the cheaper one I intended to buy. It was quite nice but basically a Bordeaux blend intended to age for another year or two and an odd match for the pizza we were sharing with a friend. Will report back on the other one if and when I pick up a bottle...

    I shall be looking forward to the review!

    Bought some today. Review to follow. :smile:

  • Priscilla wrote: »
    Wye Valley Meadery fermented mead

    It is very mead, right, and our bounden duty, always and everywhere…
  • Non-alcoholic beers are improving.

    I do like the non-alcoholic Guinness.

    I drink less than I used to but @Twangist's tastes sound similar to my own.

    A bottle of single malt lasts me almost a year. Effectively from Christmas to Advent (or thereabouts).

    I tend to drink French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese wines rather than southern hemisphere ones. I've had a very decent Romanian pinot noir from our local farm shop. Swiss pinot-noir is good too.

    I tend to go for red wines but have a bottle of white wine from Kent which I'll open after Easter.

    I only drink cider in the summer and autumn and probably have no more than 2 or 3 bottles a year. In pubs I'll always go for a cask ale or a non-alcoholic beer if it's a fasting period or I'm driving. I find soft drinks too sweet.

    Being alone now I don't frequent pubs as often as I did. I had a few decent pints of Butty Bach in South Wales recently. That varies in quality but is better close to its Herefordshire home turf. Around here, I particularly like the Wincle ales. I thoroughly recommend those.

  • I tend to stick with wines and spirits as I don't generally get on with beer. Liking the idea of liqueurs rather than their execution I've recently found that Flor de Cana - current rum of choice - does a nice coffee liqueur which isn't too sweet.
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    I'll be heading to Norwich shortly - hoping to come across some Adnams, or Woodeford's Wherry, or other local breweries that may or may not still exist - it's many years since I was last there.
  • DiomedesDiomedes Shipmate
    Eigon You'll still find Woodeford's and Adnams beers in Norwich - and there are lots of smaller local breweries to discover. Have fun!
  • @Eigon there's a pub/microbrewery at St Andrew's in Norwich. Also St Peter's near Bungay, and Lacon at Gt Yarmouth. The woodeford's brewery is just outside the city. Adnam's is at Southwold.
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    I know where the Adnams brewery is - I've visited it, but it was the first real ale I drank when I lived in Norwich, which is why I associate it with the city. Likewise Woodefords.
    St Peter's range of beers is wonderful.
    I know the name Lacons, but I don't think I ever drank any beers from them.
    I was hoping to revisit the Reindeer - but it seems to have closed in 2018.
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    Sorry to double post - I wasn't aware of the micro-brewery at St Andrews. I'll have to put that on my list!
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    You can get kits to make some of the St Peters and Woodeforde's beers yourself - Muntons are licenced to produce them. The St Peter's Ruby Red tastes like Hobgoblin used to when it was good; the Woodeforde's Norfolk Nog is also fantastic. If you like that sort of thing, anyway.
  • I’ve made the Woodforde Wherry kit years ago and it was very good, just like the real thing.
  • ThunderBunkThunderBunk Shipmate
    edited February 1
    Lacon's is available at my local, usually, which is just outside the ringroad. I will PM you the name if that is an attractive concept. They have a good selection of beers, especially local ones.
  • Woodfordes ... now you're talking!
    Adnams is excellent too when it's on form.

    Is Batemans still going up in Lincolnshire?

    Over in Yorkshire it has to be Black Sheep or Timothy Taylor's Landlord which isn't as spectacular as it once was.

    'Like angels dancing on the tongue.'

    I expect they'll have preserved it as it was up in Heaven if we get there ...

    I'm old enough to mourn the passing of some decent pints. Youngs, for instance.

    Tetley could be a cracking pint in certain Leeds pubs but it never travelled well and wasn't to be confused with the dreadful stuff on the western side of the Pennines.

    Whatever happened to Stones from Sheffield? That could be a tidy pint.

    But some are less mourned. Flowers for instance.

    I don't miss Courage Best or even Courage Director's. Hancock's in my native South Wales is so-so.

    Brain's SA and Brain's Dark can be very good and I've a soft spot for Felinfoel when it's on form.

    Please ... please stop. It's getting close to Lent.
  • But this is meant to be about beverages present not past ...
  • There's a Bateman's pub on Norwich ring road, to go back to @Eigon's plans
  • Woodfordes ... now you're talking!
    Adnams is excellent too when it's on form.

    Is Batemans still going up in Lincolnshire?

    Over in Yorkshire it has to be Black Sheep or Timothy Taylor's Landlord which isn't as spectacular as it once was.

    'Like angels dancing on the tongue.'

    I expect they'll have preserved it as it was up in Heaven if we get there ...

    I'm old enough to mourn the passing of some decent pints. Youngs, for instance.

    Tetley could be a cracking pint in certain Leeds pubs but it never travelled well and wasn't to be confused with the dreadful stuff on the western side of the Pennines.

    Whatever happened to Stones from Sheffield? That could be a tidy pint.

    But some are less mourned. Flowers for instance.

    I don't miss Courage Best or even Courage Director's. Hancock's in my native South Wales is so-so.

    Brain's SA and Brain's Dark can be very good and I've a soft spot for Felinfoel when it's on form.

    Please ... please stop. It's getting close to Lent.

    OoOoOh, Brains Dark, nectar of the gods, and Im not even Welsh!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    I'm generally a Southern Hemisphere wine girl: Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand when I can afford it (luckily Wairau Cove, Oyster Bay and Villa Maria are quite often on special offer at Tesco's), and Malbec from Argentina or Merlot from Australia.

    If I'm drinking spirits, it'll be GIN; the current bottle in my larder is LinGin, made locally.
  • Had some Timothy Taylor's Boltmaker yesterday. Yumm!
  • I've got nothing against southern hemisphere wines but I tend to stick to European ones. I dunno why. Perhaps it's an air-miles thing?

    I'm no wine connoisseur hut I do find southern hemisphere ones very full-on and fruity - which isn't a bad thing of course. I find French reds more subtle and I'm very partial to a vanilla-y Rioja. That's very '80s of me perhaps.
  • TwangistTwangist Shipmate
    I've got nothing against southern hemisphere wines but I tend to stick to European ones. I dunno why. Perhaps it's an air-miles thing?

    I'm no wine connoisseur hut I do find southern hemisphere ones very full-on and fruity - which isn't a bad thing of course. I find French reds more subtle and I'm very partial to a vanilla-y Rioja. That's very '80s of me perhaps.

    Ooh rioja.... (and I only just drank in the 80s and not wine!!!!)
  • chrisstileschrisstiles Hell Host
    edited February 2
    I'm no wine connoisseur hut I do find southern hemisphere ones very full-on and fruity - which isn't a bad thing of course.

    Two interacting trends; people have come to associate southern hemisphere (especially Australian) wines with those very fruity/jammy flavours and so the stuff in the supermarkets largely follows that trend, Secondly for a long time a lot of the wine world followed the lead of Robert Parker - a well known wine critic - and he and many of his acolytes preferred a particular type of wine ('Parkerisation' so called). This led to wine producers doing things like micro-oxygenation in order to produce particular flavour profiles (the documentary film 'Mondovino' is a good watch if you are interested)

    As trends shift (and Parker has retired) it's easier to find wines that don't fit this stereotype. In the UK, The Wine Society is a good place to find wines of all sorts at most budgets, and as they only aim to cover costs are generally a good deal.
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    Thanks for the tip, @ThunderBunk I do like Batemans, too.
    It looks as if I'll be spending a fair bit of time in various hostelries in Norwich - The Rouen used to be the diggers' pub back when I was an archaeologist digging up the Castle Mall (it's changed hands since, probably more than once!) and The Murderers/Gardeners Arms was another favoured pub.
  • @Eigon it's near Chapelfield Road Methodist Church. It looked like it might close at one stage but seems to be going through something of a renaissance. Not been inside it about 10 years though.
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    Excellent! I know where that is! Thanks!
  • TwangistTwangist Shipmate
    Is it still the case that in Norwich you have a different pub for every day of the year and a different church for every Sunday in the year?
  • Piglet wrote: »
    ...Malbec from Argentina or Merlot from Australia.
    ...

    I am also a Malbec fan. Costco in Arizona carries a Kirkland labelled Malbec for about $7 which is quite nice, and affordable.

    I enjoy scotch, and have tasted many that I like. One favorite is Talisker, from the Isle of Skye.
  • MarsupialMarsupial Shipmate
    edited February 3
    Sampled a glass of the Chateau Ksara this evening. The nose is nice and savoury but the palate is… weird.

    My tastes in wine are pretty broad… a lot of France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, with selective forays into the stuff we do well in Ontario. But there’s lot’s of good stuff out there that I will happily sample from all over the world.
  • We love the Chateau Ksara (and other Lebanese wines) but they are - yes - a bit different!

    Having lived in Lisbon at one time, we like Portuguese wines. The Alentejo wines, especially from Borba, are good - we had a "second quality" one with our Christmas venison and it went well (that was over £20, the "first quality" was over £30!). We also like Vinho Verde but a lot of what one gets in British supermarkets is too sweet. Aside from these, we enjoy Alsace wines, especially Sylvaner, and Normandy cider ...
  • EigonEigon Shipmate
    @Twangist I don't think Norwich can quite manage that any more! As I recall, several churches have been converted to other uses, like an antiques centre, arts centre, and storage for guides and scouts groups.
  • We love the Chateau Ksara (and other Lebanese wines) but they are - yes - a bit different!

    Having lived in Lisbon at one time, we like Portuguese wines. The Alentejo wines, especially from Borba, are good - we had a "second quality" one with our Christmas venison and it went well (that was over £20, the "first quality" was over £30!). We also like Vinho Verde but a lot of what one gets in British supermarkets is too sweet. Aside from these, we enjoy Alsace wines, especially Sylvaner, and Normandy cider ...

    Tried the Ksara again this evening and it wasn't as strange. I think my palate was playing tricks on me last time.

    We enjoyed a lot of good wines when we were in Portugal a few years ago. Some of them have made their way to Ontario but mostly not. The basic Vinho Verdes in Ontario are pretty meh at best but there's a very nice Alvarinho that comes in from time to time. The one I mentioned in this thread was kind of midrange - a nice dry crisp white, but not going to change the world.
  • Marsupial wrote: »
    The basic Vinho Verdes in Ontario are pretty meh at best but there's a very nice Alvarinho that comes in from time to time.
    Yes, we've enjoyed that one, too. We are fortunate in having a good Portuguese shop here in Cardiff, which also stocks our favourite "Dona Antonia" port and some nice Esporao we had recently.

  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    We've been exploring the world of vermouths, or Life Beyond Martini. We now have all the varieties of Carpano, also Lillet, Punt E Mes, Fernet Branca, Dolin, Noilly Prat and Lustau. Like gins, there's a great range of subtle herbal and aromatic flavours.
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